Total Disc Replacement with Advanced prodisc® Technology from Centinel Spine
Preserve Motion. Relieve Pain. Explore an Alternative to Spinal Fusion.
For some patients with a damaged or degenerative disc, spinal fusion isn’t the only surgical option. Dr. Jared Stefanko offers cervical and lumbar total disc replacement for qualifying patients using advanced prodisc® technology from Centinel Spine, designed to replace the damaged disc while preserving motion at the treated level.
If you've been told you may need spine surgery, Dr. Stefanko can help determine whether total disc replacement is appropriate for you.
An Alternative to Spinal Fusion
When a spinal disc becomes damaged or degenerates, it can contribute to persistent neck or lower back pain and, in some cases, pressure on nearby nerves.
Spinal fusion has long been used to treat certain disc-related conditions by permanently joining vertebrae together. Total disc replacement takes a different approach.
During the procedure, the damaged disc is removed and replaced with an artificial disc designed to maintain stability while allowing movement at the treated level.
Why Does Preserving Motion Matter?
For the right patient, total disc replacement may offer benefits including:
- Maintaining motion at the treated level
- Reducing pain associated with a damaged or degenerative disc
- Restoring disc height and stability
- Reducing stress on adjacent levels compared with fusion
- Supporting a return to everyday activities
The goal is not simply to address the damaged disc. It's to help preserve the natural movement of your spine.
Could You Be a Candidate for Total Disc Replacement?
Total disc replacement isn't right for every patient or every type of neck or back pain. Careful patient selection is an important part of determining whether this procedure is appropriate.
You may be evaluated for total disc replacement if you have symptoms related to conditions such as:
- Degenerative disc disease
- A damaged or worn spinal disc
- A herniated disc
- Chronic neck or lower back pain related to disc damage
- Nerve compression caused by a damaged disc
Your spinal anatomy, overall health, location and severity of disc damage, previous treatments and other individual factors can all affect whether total disc replacement is an option.
Even if total disc replacement isn't right for you, Dr. Stefanko and the OrthoUnited spine team can help you understand your condition and determine an appropriate path forward.
Cervical and Lumbar Disc Replacement
Dr. Stefanko uses Centinel Spine's prodisc technology to provide motion-preserving options for qualifying patients with disc problems in both the neck and lower back.
prodisc® C Vivo: Cervical Disc Replacement
For qualifying patients with cervical disc conditions, prodisc® C Vivo replaces the damaged disc in the neck while preserving motion at the treated level.
This technology gives Dr. Stefanko another option to consider for patients who might otherwise be candidates for cervical fusion.
prodisc® L: Lumbar Disc Replacement
For qualifying patients with degenerative disc disease in the lower back, prodisc® L provides a motion-preserving alternative to lumbar fusion.
The artificial disc replaces the damaged lumbar disc while helping maintain movement, stability, and disc height at the treated level.
Advanced Spine Options, Close to Home
Why Patients Seek Out Dr. Jared Stefanko
Total disc replacement is a specialized procedure, and it isn't an option offered by every spine surgeon.
At OrthoUnited, Dr. Stefanko evaluates patients for both cervical and lumbar total disc replacement, giving qualifying patients access to a motion-preserving alternative to fusion close to home.
His approach starts with understanding what's causing your symptoms and considering the treatment options that make sense for your condition. When surgery is appropriate, fusion isn't automatically the only path.
Patients from communities throughout Northeast Ohio and across the state seek out Dr. Stefanko to learn whether total disc replacement may be an option for them.
Jared Stefanko, MD
Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon
Dr. Stefanko specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the spine. His experience with advanced treatment options, including cervical and lumbar total disc replacement, allows him to help patients understand the surgical approaches available and determine which may be appropriate for their individual condition.
Hear From Dr. Stefanko's Patients
For patients considering spine surgery, hearing from someone who has already been through the experience can help make an unfamiliar procedure easier to understand.
What to Expect After Total Disc Replacement
Recovery varies based on whether cervical or lumbar disc replacement is performed, the number of levels treated, your overall health, and other individual factors.
Dr. Stefanko and the OrthoUnited spine team will explain what to expect before surgery, during the procedure, and throughout recovery. Your care plan will be tailored to your needs, with the goal of helping you safely return to everyday movement and the activities that matter to you.
Is Total Disc Replacement Right for You?
If persistent neck or lower back symptoms are limiting your life and you've been told surgery may be your next step, you may have more than one option.
Schedule an appointment with Dr. Jared Stefanko to learn whether total disc replacement could be an alternative to spinal fusion for your condition.